1971 Cross Country Team
First Row (L to R): Gary Rouland & Charles Newcomb.
Second Row (L to R): Coach William Simpson, Bernie Veile, Rick Sundberg & John Sandoval.
Carl Sandburg College began intercollegiate competition in Cross Country on September 17, 1971. The first meet was held at Kishwaukee (Malta, Ill.) and the Chargers placed second. The following week, September 30, Sandburg hosted a meet and invited Kishwaukee and Black Hawk. The Chargers captured second on this occasion while Black Hawk won the meet. On October 7th, Highland hosted a triangular meet and the Chargers finished in second place. During mid-October, Sandburg was victorious and defeated Kishwaukee. Sauk Valley hosted the next Triangular meet and Sandburg placed last.
However, Sandburg participated in the Arrowhead Athletic Conference meet on October 26th at Kishwaukee and ended up finishing third in the conference.
The Chargers were unable to run as a competitive unit during the Black Hawk Invitational and the Region IV meet at Riis Park in Chicago due to being one member short of the required five man team, but Sandburg´s runners entered as independents.
The individuals recognized placed respectfully in the two events: at Black Hawk; Veile, 39th; Sundberg, 49th; Newcomb, 52nd; Rouland, 70th; and in the Region IV meet, Sundberg, 67th; Veile, 75th; Newcomb, 84th; and Rouland, 116th.